Marines

News

Archive: March, 2008

2009 SNCO promotion board schedule announced

The Marine Corps announced March 14 the schedule for staff noncommissioned officer promotion boards to be held in fiscal year 2009. The board for E-8s and E-9s convenes first on Oct. 14 and expects to conclude on Dec. 12. The gunnery sergeant promotion board begins April 14, 2009, and ends nine weeks later on June 12, 2009. Staff sergeant

Season uniform change now linked to daylight saving time to keep Marines matching

To synchronize uniform wear worldwide, the seasonal change of garrison uniforms now corresponds with the beginning and ending of daylight saving time, the Marine Corps commandant directed March 6. For most Marines, this meant changing from green "digital camouflage" utilities or green flight suits with long sleeves to desert utilities or tan flight

Marine Corps adds big bonuses for critical jobs

The Marine Corps is offering an extra $20,000 for Marines who have critical jobs and re-enlist to stay in the operating forces while canceling Zone-A re-enlistment bonuses for many other specialties. According to Marine Administrative Message 153/08 released March 3, military occupational specialties now eligible for an additional $20,000 bonus

DoD changes smallpox vaccine, effects minimal for Marines

The Department of Defense recently changed the type of smallpox vaccine used to protect service members, though the only effect for troops receiving it will be a few more needle pokes. The new vaccine, called AMCAM2000, hit shelves across the Marine Corps by the end of Feburary, after the old vaccine's former producer withdrew its manufacturing

Civilian leave increases due to wartime effects on homefront

The Marine Corps recently increased the maximum amount of leave most Marine Corps Community Service personnel can save from 30 to 45 days over a span of two years. The change occurred due to challenges MCCS has experienced from supporting the Global War on Terrorism, according to Marine Corps Bulletin 12000 released January 7. Many MCCS employees

Shock-absorbing structures on Yuma range cut re-building cost, provide realistic training

New, shock-absorbing, concrete structures were built on the Barry M. Goldwater Range near the Marine Corps Air Station here Feb. 15 in order to cut re-building costs and to provide more realistic training for the Marines who use them. The new buildings replace previous ones made of wood, which were usually destroyed after every live-fire

Survey shows no desire to change SNCO evening dress uniform

After nearly five years, the push to develop a new evening dress uniform for male staff NCOs halted after Marines pushed back, the senior enlisted Marine declared March 1. In an e-mail addressed to sergeants major and master gunnery sergeants, Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Carlton W. Kent wrote that a majority of Marines throughout the Corps didn't

Seasonal uniform changes standardized across Corps, linked to daylight saving time

To synchronize uniform wear worldwide, the seasonal change of garrison uniforms will correspond with the beginning and ending of daylight saving time, the Marine Corps commandant directed March 6. For most Marines, this means changing from green "digital camouflage" utilities with long sleeves to tan desert utilities with sleeves rolled up starting

Marines now keep up to 75 leave days each year due to high op tempo

Beginning Oct. 1, Marines can keep 15 more days of leave on the books per year due to the Marine Corps' high operational tempo. The change, announced in Marine Administrative Message 137/08, raises the maximum amount of leave a Marine can have at the end of a fiscal year from 60 to 75 days. The change will let Marines to retain more leave so they

Marine Corps Air Station Yuma